There is an accessible manual here, which is much easier to read with a screen reader than the PDF version.

Quick Note

First, a quick thanks to the awesome people at WMD who spent valuable time answering questions, adapting documentation, and discussing UX features for version 2 of the Metron firmware. This document would have been exponentially more difficult without their help.

This document represents many hours of discovery, experimentation, and testing. Given the vast complexity of this sequencer and its feature set, portions of this document may still be incomplete. I will continue updating it as I learn and discover more.

Most notably, I am currently working with WMD to obtain documentation for the Metron settings file so that I can create a desktop application to help edit global settings, which is currently one of the largest accessibility stumbling blocks.

If you have any questions, comments, or contributions related to this or any other document, please see the footer section for contact information. I would genuinely love to hear from you.

Orientation

Place the module in your rack so that the ports are at the top and the buttons are at the bottom beneath the ports.

Layout Overview

The panel consists of three horizontal zones from top to bottom:

1. Top jack rows — Clock, assign, and 16 track gate jacks
2. Function button row — Compose, variation, counter, memory, and global controls
3. Track group buttons and matrix — A column of track group and page selectors on the far left, with a 16x4 step button grid to the right

At the top-right corner of the module is the SD card slot, mounted vertically.

Far-Left Jacks (Stacked)

This section contains a group of jacks arranged in three columns by two rows.

Top Row

• Clock In
• Clock Out
• Reset In

Bottom Row

• Assign In
• Assign 2 In
• Reset Out

Center Top — 16 Track Gate Jacks

These jacks follow the same two-row arrangement as the jacks on the left side.

Top Row (Odd-Numbered Tracks)

• 1
• 3
• 5
• 7
• 9
• 11
• 13
• 15

Bottom Row (Even-Numbered Tracks)

• 2
• 4
• 6
• 8
• 10
• 12
• 14
• 16

Function Buttons

Left-Side Buttons and Labels

The first vertical group of buttons contains the track group selectors located on the far left side of the module.

From top to bottom:

• 1–4
• 5–8
• 9–12
• 13–16

Second Column

Below the track selection buttons is another column of four buttons. These are used for page selection within tracks.

Main Function Area

• To the right of the 1–4 group button is the Compose button. It occupies a row by itself, excluding the top group selection button.
• To the right of the 5–8 group button is a row of five variation buttons.
• To the right of the variation buttons is an LCD display, followed by a single Memory button, and then another LCD display.
• At the upper-right area beneath the output jacks are two encoders:
  • The left encoder is Encoder 1
  • The right encoder is Encoder 2

Both encoders may be turned and pressed.

• Beneath the variation buttons is a long row of function buttons arranged into three groups:
  • First group: 7 buttons
  • Second group: 5 buttons
  • Third group: 2 buttons

Variation Buttons

From left to right:

• A
• B
• C
• D
• E

Function Buttons

These buttons are written with their default function first, followed by the function accessed while holding another modifier button.

For example:

[CLEAR]/[CNTRCT]

means the button normally performs CLEAR, but performs CNTRCT when used with the appropriate hold function.

First Group

• [DUPL]/[HOLD]
• [CLEAR]/[CNTRCT]
• [NUDGE]/[EXPND]
• [PTN LENGTH]/[PTN DUP]
• [RANDOM]
• [BURST]
• [GATE]

Second Group

• [LOAD]/[TEMPO]
• [SAVE]/[GLOBAL]
• [S-BUS]
• [TRIPLET]
• [FILL FX]

Third (Last) Group

• [RESET]
• [RECORD]

Step Grid (Main Body)

The main body of the module contains a large grid of illuminated round buttons arranged in a 16x4 matrix. This grid is used for sequence programming and editing.

Memory Layout

The following information is derived directly from the memory layout diagrams and is important when duplicating and managing data within the Metron.

• Projects are the top-level container. Up to 8 projects are supported.
• Each project may contain up to 64 sessions.
• Each session may contain up to 5 variations, corresponding to the variation buttons.
• Each variation contains 4 tracks.
• Each track contains pattern data.

Duplication Scopes

When duplicating data, remember that everything beneath the selected hierarchy level is also duplicated.

For example, duplicating a variation includes all four tracks and all associated pattern data contained within those tracks.

More specifically:

• Variation duplication includes tracks and all descending pattern data, including Voltera CV data.
• Step copy is the most granular duplication scope and includes only the data associated with that individual step.

Voltera Scales

While this information exists in the alt text, separating it into a dedicated list makes it significantly easier to reference.

The following positions correspond to Voltera pot clock positions for scale settings:

• Fully counterclockwise:
  • No quantization
  • Range: -5V to +5V
• 9:00:
  • No quantization
  • Range: 0V to +5V
• 10:00:
  • No quantization
  • Range: -1V to +1V
• 11:00:
  • 12-tone quantization
  • Range: 0V to +5V
• 12:00:
  • 12-tone quantization
  • Range: -5V to +5V
• 1:00:
  • 12-tone quantization
  • Range: -1V to +1V
• Fully clockwise:
  • User scale quantization

Refer to the manual for instructions on accessing these settings.

Accessibility Notes

Most screen data and LED-based feedback on the Metron will not be accessible to blind or visually impaired users. That said, I have found the following techniques helpful:

• If you are unsure what is occurring within a track, it is often easiest to reset that track entirely.

  • Hold CLEAR with a variation button to clear that variation
  • Hold CLEAR with a track group button to clear that group
  • Hold CLEAR with a track page button to clear that track

• As far as I can tell, there is not a clean accessible way to set probabilities

• When you’re in fill FX mode, you can use any of the top row of the matrix to mute the track. For example, I often keep my drums on channels 13, 14, 15, and 16. This means that the fourth button in from the right will always mute and unmute my kick.

• As mentioned, it helps to patch specific channels for specific purposes. If you always know that specific channels belong to specific types, you’ll find mutes, clears and other functions much more simple.

• If you are editing a track in the full page view, you’ll notice that rows beyond row 1 by default don’t play as part of the sequence. For example, if I enter sequencing data on rows 2 and 3, I need to adjust the pattern length. Hold the [PTN] button, and press any button on the matrix. You can also do this in compose mode if you want to set the pattern length to 16 or less.

• The Metron takes several seconds to boot after rack power-up. Allow approximately 10 seconds before interaction.

• When loading and saving, the manual suggests using the encoder for slot selection, but this is not required.

  • Any of the 64 slots may be selected directly using the matrix buttons.
  • I commonly use the top row for loading and saving.

Typical workflow:

1. Press [MEMORY]
2. Press [LOAD/SAVE]
3. Press a matrix button corresponding to the desired slot
4. Press [LOAD/SAVE] again

Press [COMPOSE] to exit memory view.

Shortcuts

The following are all quick shortcuts for specific buttons. These are provided in alt text form, but I found it easier to have a reference.

Scales:MATRIX Row 1 (Octave Selection)

• Column 1: —
• Column 2: —
• Column 3: -5
• Column 4: -4
• Column 5: -3
• Column 6: -2
• Column 7: -1
• Column 8: —
• Column 9: —
• Column 10: +1
• Column 11: +2
• Column 12: +3
• Column 13: +4
• Column 14: +5
• Column 15: —
• Column 16: —

Scales:MATRIX Row 2 (Black Keys)

• Column 1: —
• Column 2: —
• Column 3: —
• Column 4: —
• Column 5: —
• Column 6: C♯/D♭
• Column 7: D♯/E♭
• Column 8: —
• Column 9: F♯/G♭
• Column 10: G♯/A♭
• Column 11: A♯/B♭
• Column 12: —
• Column 13: —
• Column 14: —
• Column 15: —
• Column 16: —

Scales:MATRIX Row 3 (White Keys)

• Column 1: —
• Column 2: —
• Column 3: —
• Column 4: —
• Column 5: C
• Column 6: D
• Column 7: E
• Column 8: F
• Column 9: G
• Column 10: A
• Column 11: B
• Column 12: —
• Column 13: —
• Column 14: —
• Column 15: —
• Column 16: —